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History of the Suzuki A100 Motorcycle

The Suzuki A100 was, in many ways, the typical motorcycle produced by the Japanese in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was small, fuel efficient, and generally quite reliable. The A100 was also a hit with travelers looking for a comfortable and affordable ride. Like so many other classic Japanese motorcycles, the Suzuki A100 “inspired” many similar designs throughout China and the Far East. For example, you could buy a factory-new Suzuki AX100 in India in the 1980s that offered pretty much the same specs as the original from the 1970s.

The Suzuki A100 was powered by a 98cc engine that produced a maximum power output of 9.3hp at 7,500rpm. While the figures weren’t exciting, they were pretty good for a bike that weighed just 83kg with an empty tank (7 liter capacity). This single-cylinder two-stroke engine had a rotary disc valve designed to improve power delivery throughout the power band. Suzuki also included an automatic oil pump CCI system for engine lubrication. This dramatically reduced the lubrication-related issues that plague other similar two-stroke bike designs.

Suzuki gave the Suzuki A100 a simplified speedometer with all the main gauges neatly arranged around it. This allowed even the most average motorcyclist to quickly understand the driving conditions. Both the front and actual wheels used 2.50 x 18 tires, which were fine with street surfaces but poor in traction for the size of the bike. The Suzuki A100’s brakes were also a mystery; during all production years from 1974 to 1980, Suzuki offered only basic drum brakes on both wheels. This was unusual because the Suzuki A100 proved capable of cruising 100 mph when going full throttle, with many owners reporting comfortable cruising speeds of over 70 mph.

With the Suzuki A100, Suzuki had a very popular mass product and they knew it. In all the years of production, no major changes were made apart from a few cosmetic styling changes. Later models also tended to have brighter color schemes, perhaps to appeal to younger riders, as larger motorcycles began to battle it out on UK streets in the 1980s.

Today, surviving Suzuki A100s may qualify for a free “Historic Vehicle” road tax. Across the UK, individual owners and collectors still use this dependable everyday bike for work or play. With its basic technology and reliable engine, the Suzuki A100 is easy to modify, making it a great weekend restoration project. While original parts can be hard to find, you can easily use genuine quality modern parts that fit the specifications of the Suzuki A100 city bike.

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